Gatlin stuns Coleman at championship trials
sacramento — Justin Gatlin stormed to victory in the 100m at the US world championship trials on Friday, upstaging rising star Christian Coleman and setting up the prospect of one final duel with Usain Bolt.
The 35-year-old Gatlin turned on the gas in the final 20 meters at Sacramento’s Hornet Stadium to reel in Coleman for a convincing win in 9.95sec.
“It was just a fighting moment,” Gatlin said of his victory.
“It wasn’t the spectacular time that you’ve seen me run in the past couple of years. But it was a time that I needed to fight.
“I had to make sure I was right there with him at the end and try and hold on with experience.”
Coleman, 21, had been tipped as the likeliest US rival to Bolt at August’s World Championships
It wasn’t the spectacular time that you’ve seen me run in the past couple of years Justin Gatlin
after clocking the fastest time in the world this year, a blistering 9.82sec.
But Coleman — who hours earlier had inked a seven-figure sponsorship deal with Nike — was put firmly in his place by the veteran Gatlin, finishing in 9.98sec.
Christopher Belcher was third in 10.06sec.
Asked if he felt Gatlin still ‘had it’, Coleman replied: “He never lost it!”
“I was just honored to be in the race and I’m looking forward to many more,” Coleman said. —